The unfortunate reality is that we live in a world where grace is in short supply yet in high demand.

This unusual display of grace coupled with genuine love for people is a secret weapon in being a leader worth following.

The employee/employer relationship is a unique one. It is entered into by contract and yet can result in the same feelings of two strangers becoming best friends for the first time. The imbalance of the relationship is no more present than during the review period or a period of discontent where the employee is often faced with the reality of separating from the relationship that was formed.

In my experience, many times this departure is tumultuous and unnecessarily so. The reason being is that it ends with the prevailing emotion, “They never cared about me.” Those powerful words become the backdrop for the chaos that ensues.

Every great leader understands the burden of responsibility that they have in leading a team of people. As Churchill observed, "responsibility is the path to greatness." And we have a responsibility as leaders to care for our teams in ways that they leave us uplifted and not in anger and frustration.

In The New Leadership Paradigm, I discuss how you can take control of your organization and create something that transcends the norms of the business world.